01/03/2018
There are truly no words that can ever do justice to Jim.
He was simply one of THE nicest, kindest, funniest and most engaging human beings you could ever have the privilege to meet.
He was also the most philosophical and accepting and had the most amazing ability to make the most of any situation.
He loved his wonderful family. His beautiful wife Merle, their two gorgeous daughters, Lee and Micah and latterly his son-in-law, Louw and as that story proves, would do anything for them.
Above all, Jim loved horses and they loved him. There can perhaps be no greater compliment paid to him than the fact that the mighty Jet Master, often known to be quite temperamental, accepted Jim as his personal physician without qualm.
I was lucky enough to spend time with Jim during Jet Master’s illness and asked how he was coping having to share his star patient with all the international experts who were flown in to do the surgery.
In typical Jim fashion, he was fascinated by the visitors and the procedure and entirely unphased about the team approach.
“A few years ago, I received a call from another vet who was called in to consult on a horse I was treating. He asked whether he might not be treading on my toes. I said absolutely not. Firstly, I have small feet! And secondly, why would I mind? The more the merrier and the more help and advice we can collect, the better for the horse. Which is what it’s all about, after all.”
He was the most unlikely hero, but a hero he was to so very many of us.